Hydroacoustic analysis of open cavity subsonic flow based on multiple parameter numerical models

The prediction of the flow-induced noise level is a key issue in the fluid–dynamic acoustics. In the hydroacoustics field, the complicated feedback induced by the flow past open cavities can amplify the convection instability in the shear layer which further leads to important noise radiations. The noise consists of intense narrowband and broadband components. In this paper, the level of the noise radiated by a subsonic cavity flow is calculated by using numerical flow computations based on the large eddy simulation (LES) and by solving the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation. A series of three-dimensional open cavity models with overset grids and appropriate boundary conditions are developed for the hydroacoustic numerical computation. The self-sustained oscillation characteristics of the cavity flow are investigated, together with the mechanisms of the cavity noise generation. The distinguishing features of the flow-induced noise of the underwater structure cavities are studied with respect to the parameters of the cavity models, such as the free stream velocity, the dimensions of the cavity mouth, the angle of the cavity neck, the horizontal and vertical porous cavity models and the actual submarine open cavity model with an incoming flow attack angle. It is shown that it may be feasible to reduce the flow-induced noise by appropriate optimal parameters of the underwater structure cavities.